Photographic clip



2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 28, 1950 Tw Md Va m2 W 0. ma w Main- L (diamp 8 1954 A. LUDWIG 2,689,997

PHOTOGRAPHIC CLIP Filed Nov. 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORLflnfivonylzzdwg LQ QQxM L0. W

Aiiorney Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEPHOTOGRAPHIC CLIP Anthony Ludwig, Falls Church, Va.

Application November 28, 1950, Serial No. 197,886

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to clips and particularly to clips for long orshort strips which have to be processed in liquids, such as photographicfilms.

In the making of photographic negatives, the films are passedsuccessively from one tank containing a processing solution to anothertank containing another processing solution, after which the films arewashed and dried.

In the processing of ordinary black and white negatives, the films arefirst attached to clips which are carried by the developing machine,which places the films in a tank containing a developing solution. Afterthe film is developed, it is usually placed in a so-called "short stopsolution which arrests, at once, all action of any developer solutionwhich may have remained on the film. After treatment in the short stopsolution, the film is removed and placed in a hypo solution. This hyposolution removes all of the light-sensitive portion of the emulsion onthe film body which has not been affected by the light exposure. Thiscompletes the processing except for washing and drying of the negative.

After the hypo treatment, the negative is removed from the hypo solutionand placed in a water bath. In some laboratories it is customary to usetwo hypo baths-first a weaker bath and then a stronger bath. Thenegative, before passing to the dryer, may be put through one, two, ormore water baths to be sure that all of the hypo has been removed.

In removing a clip with its attached negative from one solution to gointo another, it is obvious that it is advantageous if the clip is soshaped as to cause practically all of the solution to run off as theclip and its negative emerge from the surface of the solution. This isimportant because (1) there is a minimum loss of solution and (2) thereis a minimum contamination of the next solution. And when the negativehas finished being washed, there is less water to be removed byevaporation.

Also, in developing and washing photographic films, considerable troublehas been encountered due to other causes. The clips have collected andheld water until after the films were dried and when disturbed, havegiven up the water to be deposited on the films. This causes theemulsion to be distorted when dried the second time and when printed,transmits the appearance of a drop of water. To avoid this retention ofthe water on the clips to be later, perhaps accidentally, deposited onthe film, some laboratories have installed an additionalbath with whatis 2 called a wetting agent. This bath may contain aerosol or somesimilar agent whose function it is to destroy the surface tension of thewater, promoting its draining from the clips. This extra bath would beuseless if the water drained properly from the clips.

With the clips in use at the present time, for example in photographicdevelopment, there has been found to be a definite tendency for theclips to hold on their surfaces, the liquids such as chemicals andwater, for a longer time than desirable after having been removed fromthe chemical or water bath.

In the case of the chemicals, as already pointed out, too much of theliquid chemical is drawn out on the surface of the clip, thus wastingthe chemical and unnecessarily contaminating the next bath into whichthe film and its clip may be inserted. In the case of the water, toomuch of the Water adheres to the clip after passing through the finalwater bath. This often results in the retention of much water on theclip after the film is thoroughly dried. The result of such a conditionis that upon removal of the film and clip from the drying rank, thewater retained on the clip is disturbed and runs onto the film. Thiswater rewets the film and may result in (1) streaks on the film or (2)damage to the film, made possible by contact after being softened by thewater and (3) tear drop marks as already pointed out.

In any event, this surplus chemical solution or water is undesirable oneither the clip or its support.

Another difiiculty in the use of clips in the processing of photographicfilms has been the fact that it is as necessary, if not more necessary,that the clip with its weight at the bottom of the film shed its liquidas efficiently as the clip at the top of the depending film. This is forthe reasons (1) that all of the liquid at the top runs to the bottom andalso (2) that the normal and conventional location of the spring bow ofthe conventional clip at the lower end away from the gripping jaws ofthe clip tend to furnish a collecting place for the liquid. It isobvious that the film must be held in a steady position to prevent itfrom contacting with other films and to prevent it from curling.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedclip for use in processing photographic films and the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedphotographic clip wherein liquids from the respective processing tankswill be quickly discharged from the surfaces of the clips as they arelifted from their processing liquids, thus minimizing the loss of theliquid from the tank out of which the clip and film are lifted and alsoreducing the contamination of the liquid of the tank into which the filmwith its clip is to be placed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedphotographic clip wherein there is provision for efiicient discharge ofthe liquid from its surface when the clip is used at the bottom of thefilm, with its weight to hold the film in a vertical position to preventcurling during the processing.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a photographicclip wherein its parts are so shaped that with the clip used as a bottomclip, and the clip with its film are withdrawn from a processing liquid,the liquid on the surface of tthe clip will be at once conducted toportions of the clip having no substantial horizontal area and quicklydischarged therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a photographicclip for use as a bottom clip having an arch-shape bow having invertedU-shaped cross sections whereby the liquid of a processing bath isconducted to lower portions of the clip which have discharging points ofsubstantially no horizontal area.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a photographicclip for use as a top or bottom clip which has an arch-shape bow havingliquid-shedding inverted U-shape portions whereby the liquid of aprocessing bath is conducted to lower portions of the clip which havedischarging points of substantially no horizontal area, regardless ofwhich end of the clip is uppermost.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a photographicclip for use with its gripping means at the top, and in this positionhaving its walls substantially out of horizontal planes and being freeof pockets or other portions which might retain liquid and prevent itsdischarge from the clip.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of aphotographic clip for the bottom of films being processed wherein thewalls are spaced apart in such a manner as to prevent liquid fromlodging between two surfaces by surface tension.

Another and further object of the invention is the provision of aphotographic clip wherein when the gripping means are at the top as foruse as a bottom clip, the bow section will be of an inverted U-shape andwill guide the liquid to surfaces out of a horizontal plane and withlower edges out of the horizontal and having the lowest points ofsubstantially no horizontal area to facilitate the discharge of theliquid from the clip.

Another and still further object of the invention is the provision of aphotographic clip having an inverted bow section and having the surfacesbelow the bow section in substantially vertical planes with lower edgesat substantial angles to the horizontal with the lowest points having nosubstantial horizontal area.

Another and still further object of the invention is the provision of aphotographic clip for use either with the gripping means at the top orbottom and wherein in either position the bow portion will have aninverted U-shaped cross section for conducting the liquid to lowerportion: of the clip.

Another and further object of the invention is the provision of aphotographic clip for use at the bottom of a film being processed andwherein the gripping is at points with the film free from other contactsand wherein the portions below the bow section are substantially invertical planes and free from other surfaces and with their lowestpoints having no substantial horizontal area.

Another and still further object of the invention is the provision of aclip whose jaws will be so formed that while the teeth will grip thefilm firmly, they will not perforate the film, which would weaken it andmake it less resistant to tearing and allowing the clip to be pulledfrom the film.

Another and further object of the invention is the provision of a clipWhose jaws are so formed that they cover the least possible portion ofthe film so that they do not retard free circulation of air or interruptheat rays or infrared rays to the film surfaces, thus making possible thquick drying of the portion of the film near the jaws of the clip. Thisprovision is very important since clips which enclose a portion of thefilm will prevent the drying at the point where held and if these endsare not carefully removed, they are liable to touch and adhere to goodnegative portions of adjacent films. In such a case, the adjacent filmis completely ruined when the two are pulled apart.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from areading of the complete specification.

Referring to the drawing wherein I have illustrated different forms ofmy invention,

Fig. 1 is a front view of my preferred form of clip used as a bottomclip for a film processing.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the same type of clip asa top clip, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2, being thesame showing of a bottom view of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modified form of one of the grippingdevices.

Fig. 6 is a pattern of the modified form of spring means shown in Fig.5.

Fig. '7 is a view at to the showing in Fig. 5 but with the complementarygripping member in coactive relation.

Fig. 8 is a front view of an adaptation of the clip shown in myco-pending application, Serial No. 197,885, filed on November 28, 1950,showing a construction for use as a bottom clip. Reference is also madeto my application copending herewith and now abandoned, Serial No.661,099, filed April 10, 1946.

Fig. 9 is a. side view of the structure shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a pattern of the structure of Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

Fig. 12 is a combination of a modification of the bow portion of Figs. 1to 4, the remaining portions being constructed as Figs. 8. 9 and 10.

Fig. 13 is a side view of Fig. 12, parts being broken away forclearness.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 14-44 of Fig.13.

Fig. 15 is a detail showing of a modified form of gripping tooth arm.

The same reference charactersare used to designate the same and similarparts throughout the specification and drawing.

In carrying out the spirit of this invention, it has been a purposegenerally to provide a photographic clip which will quickly get rid ofliquids from its surface and which may be used as either a top or bottomclip with equal success.

Referring to the structure of Figs. 1 to 4, I have provided a bow shapedbody portion with front and rear leg portions 20a and 20b and an endportion 200 which I term the bow. The front leg portion 20a has itssides notched in between the bow end and the clip end as at 20d.Attached to the edges of the rear leg portion 20b are folded portions20c which carry gripping portions as will be presently set forth. Thesefolded portions 206 are preferably provided with ribs 20) to stiffen thefolded portions and assure the registration of the gripping teeth. Itwill be observed that the folded portions 20c normally clear the sidesof the front portion 20a and also that their surfaces are substantiallyin vertical planes with their top and bottom edges out of horizontalplanes, regardless of the use as a top clip or as a bottom clip.

At the extended ends of the folded portions 20c, there are providedteeth 209 which with complementary members of the front portion, formthe gripping means of the clip. These teeth 20g are provided with topand bottom edges which are out of the horizontal plane and which willnot, therefore hold water. When used as a bottom clip, the liquid willat once be conducted to the film where it will be carried to the bottomend for discharge. But when used as a top clip, these edges of the teethillustrated in Fig. 3 will conduct the liquid away from the film topoints of discharge as will later be more fully explained. The extremeends of the folded portions 20c are provided with discharge ends 20hwhich have little or no horizontal area and for practical purposes arepoints. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, it will be observed that theouter edge of the folded portion 20c has a curved contacting portion 20qto permit the bearing of the film F as it is received by the clip, aswill be described.

At the end of the front portion 20a, opposite the bow 200, are twoextensions 20k which may be provided with strengthening ribs 20m. Theseextensions have non-horizontal edges to conduct liquid toward the lowerend of the clip, whether the clip is being used as a top or a bottomclip. Opposite to and in positions to coact with the teeth 20g are ribs2071, on the extensions 20m, which are slightly longer than the width ofthe teeth 20g. They are not, however, sufficiently long to interferewith the draining of the liquid which is of prime consideration. Theydo, however, provide for proper registration with the teeth 2057, eventhough, from rough handling, the teeth become slightly bent. At the fartip end from the bow 200, the extensions 20k terminate in ends 20:10which have practically no horizontal area and for practical purposes arepoints. When the clip is being used as a top clip, as illustrated inFig. 2, these points conduct the liquid from the clip, it being wellknown that a liquid drop has very little tendency to remain on a point.The end 20p is bent away from the position occupied by the film F, asshown in Fig. 3 and with the outer inclined edge of the outer tooth 20g,form a guide means to conduct the film into position between the teeth20g and the ribs 201i. When the film F is to be inserted, the two bodyportions 20a and 20b are pressed toward each other. This separates theteeth 20g from the ribs Zlln and opens a space for the film. The film,as it is inserted, engages the edge 20q, as shown in Fig. 3. The fingersof the operator now release the clip and the resiliency of the clip,causes the teeth 20g to impinge the surface of the film and bind itagainst the ribs 201:. A weight 21 is secured to the inner side of therear portion 20b by any suitable means to give weight to the clip whenused as a bottom clip. The weight 2| is of a shape and is applied insuch a manner that the liquid will be conducted downwardly and away,without regard to which end of the clip is uppermost. Such a shape andposition is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4.

The double arch construction which permits of efficient use of this clipas a bottom clip or as a top clip, will now be described. At the bow endof the clip, there is a space 201 which has been cut away to destroy thepocket which would otherwise be present to collect liquid. At the outersides of the bow, there is a secondary arch 20s impressed into the bowwhich, when the clip is used as a top clip as shown on Fig. 2, conductsthe liquid to the substantially vertical outer surfaces of the front andrear portions 20a andZOb, respectively.

When the clip is used as a bottom clip as shown in Fig. 1, the liquid isconducted to each side of this arch, the liquid from each arch surfacebeing conducted off, half to the outer side of the bow 20c and the otherhalf through the opening 201'. To assist this discharge of the last dropof liquid, there may be provided slight points 202? at the lowest partof the arch as clearly indicated at the very bottom of Fig. 3.

A modification of the end portions 20k and their ribs 21in will now bedescribed. Substituted for the extension 20k are the extensions 2811.each of which is provided with one or more bent tabs 20w which tabs areshown in their pattern in Fig. 6 and bent into operative shape in Figs.5 and 7. It is to be noted that these tabs are very slightly inclined tocause the liquid to be quickly conducted away but sufficiently close tothe normal position of the teeth 20!! that any slight bending of theteeth due to careless handling will not affect the efiicient operationof the clip.

A modified form of the invention will now be described. In this form aswith the other, a clip is provided which will operate as a bottom clip,one adaptation being of a construction which will operate either as abottom or a top clip.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 8 to 11, the bow has been designatedby the numeral I200 having two leg portions extending therefrom whichare designated as [20a and I2llb, respectively. Extending from the legportion l20a are two arms l20d which carry the teeth lZlle which are apart of the teeth gripping means. These teeth, as the others previouslydescribed, are provided with non-horizontal edges so that there will beno tendency for the edges of the teeth to hold liquid. The arms IZIldare provided with suitable stiffening ribs I203: which have a tendencyto resist rough or careless treatment on the part of the operator. Atthe end of the arm [20d is an inclined edge l20f which terminates in apoint l 209 which point acts to quickly discharge liquid. The edges [20serve, with a complementary surface on each of the other arms, to act asguiding means for the insertion of the film to be processed.

Extending from the end I 20b are the arms mm which when bent to shape asshown in Figs. 9 and. 10, act complementary to the arms I20d and 7 carrythe teeth l20lc for coaction with the teeth i202 already described. Arib iZlim is provided on each arm iZflh for stifiening these armsagainst bending and rough use.

The arms I2Dh may be provided, if found to be desirable, with stop arms[2011. having. bent stops IZOp to rest on the outside of the portion mm,to provide especially against the teeth l20e and lZflk slipping past oneanother in case they become bent.

Referring to Figs. 12, 13 and 14;, the parts 228a, 220b, 220d, 2209,220], 2209, 220b, 220k, 220m, 22012,, and 220p are similarly constructedto and perform similar functions to the corresponding parts IZOa, [211b,IZOd, 120e, 1201, I209, i'lllh, 128k,

IZOm, [Mn and 123p already described.

The bow section 220a is constructed similar to the bow section 280described in connection with the form of the invention illustrated inFigs. 1 to 4.

In Figs. 12, 13 and 14, the parts 220e, 2201' 220s and 22015 are similarto and perform the same functions as the parts 200, 201, 20s, and tiltand for this reason, will not be further described.

In the forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10 and 12 to 14,the weights l2! and 22! are similarly constructed to and perform thesame function as the weight 2| already described for the formillustrated in Figs. 1 to 4.

Fig. 15 is a detail view of a form of teeth supporting arm similar tothe arms [h and 22th but with the gripping means corresponding to theconstruction shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. The arm 339k corresponds to thearms |20h and 22th, with a rib 3201c corresponding to the ribs lliik and220k. The tabs 320w correspond to the tabs 20112 of Fig. 6.

These clips may be made of metal, plastic or any other suitablematerial.

The illustration of the clip in Figs. 8 to 10 shows the clip thickerthan might be desirable in actual practice. This has been shown in thismanner in the interest of clearness.

While modifications have been shown and described in detail, it is to beunderstood that the disclosures are merely illustrative and thatmodifications and changes may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention and within its scope as claimed.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1. A mounting clip for filmprocessing having a generally U-shape spring body member, the bend ofthe U-shape portion being provided with legs, the two legs havingopposed coacting filmgripping lateral projections having substantiallypoint-contact with and for holding the film, and film-contacting andsteadying means on the clip and spaced from the said film-grippingprojections laterally, and in position to coact with the film-grippingprojections to hold the film in a steady position with relation to thebody of the clip, the ends of the legs of the clip distant from theU-shape bend, including the gripping projections and the contactingmeans, terminating substantiailly in downwardly directed points at thelower extremities of the legs, all surface portions and edges of theclip from the U-shape bend to the said points extending downwardly andsloping to said downwardly directed points,

thereby forming a continuous downwardly extending drainage surface toconduct the liquid in an uninterrupted progressive fiow from all partsof the clip surface to the said points and thence from the clip, thedrainage surface. being spaced from and positioned with relation to theother parts of the clip and from and relative to the film position as topromote the free passage of liquid during drainage.

2. A. mounting clip for film processing having a generally U-shapespring body member, the bend of the U-shape portion being provided withtwo legs, each of the two legs having two opposed film-gripping lateralprojections having substantially point-contact with the film, thegripping projections of one leg being opposite the gripping projectionsof the other leg and in position to form two coacting pairs offilm-gripping projections, each of the pairs of gripping projectionsbeing a distance from the other pair to form a contacting steadyingmeans to hold th film in a steady position with relation to the body ofthe clip, the ends of the legs of the clip distant from the U-shapebend, and including the gripping projections, terminating substantiallyin downwardly directedpoints at the lowermost extremities of the legs,all surface portions and edges of the clip from the U-shape bend to thesaid points extending downwardly and sloping to said downwardly directedpoints, thereby forming a continuous downwardly extending drainagesurface to conduct the liquid in an uninterrupted progressiveifiow fromall parts of the clip surface to the said points and thence from theclip, the drainage surface being spaced from and positioned withrelation to other parts of the clip and from and relative to the filmposition as to promote the. free passage of liquid during drainmg.

3. A mounting clip for film processing having a generally U-shape springbody member, the bend of the U-shape portion being provided with legs,each leg having afilm-gripping lateral projection opposing and coactingwith the projection of the other leg to grip and hold the film, andhavingsubstantiallypoint-contact with the film, and film-contacting andsteadying means on the clip and spaced from the said film-grippingprojections and in position to coact with the film-gripping projectionsto hold the film in a steady position with relation to the body of theclip, the. upper and lower extremities of the clip terminatingsubstantially in outwardly upwardly and downwardly directed points atthe outermost extremities of the bend and legs, all surface portions andedges of the clip from the top outwardly directed points to the bottomdownwardly directed points extending substantially downwardly andsloping to said downwardly directed points, thereby forming acontinuously downwardly extending drainage surface to conduct liquid inan uninterrupted progressive fiow from all parts of the clip surfacefrom and below the top points to the bottom points and thence from theclip, regardless of which end of the clip is at the top, the drainagesurface being spaced from and positioned with relation to the otherparts of the clip and from and relative to the film position as topromote the free passage of liquid during the draining.

4. A mounting clip'for. processing film having a generally U-shape"spring body member, the bend of the U-shape portion having legs, eachleg having a film-gripping lateral projection opposing and coacting withthe film-gripping projection of the other leg to grip and hold the filmand clip together, the projections having substantially point-contactwith the film, the U- shape portionhaving an inverted U-shape crosssection with themain body or the clip hung with its loop member ininverted-U position and having an upright U-shape cross section taken ina substantially vertical plane at substantially 90 from said inverted-Ucross section, with the clip in the same said position, the upper andlower extremities of the clip terminating substantially in outwardlyupwardly and downwardly directed points, respectively, the successiveadjacent surface portions and edges of the clip from the top points tothe bottom points extending substantially downwardly, and sloping fromthe upwardly directed points to said downwardly directed points, therebyforming a continuously downwardly extending drainage surface to conductliquid in an uninterrupted progressive flow from all 'parts of the clipsurface from and below the said top points to the said bottom points andthence from the clip, regardless of which end of the clip is uppermost,the drainage surface being spaced from and positioned with relation toother parts of the clip and from and relative .to the film position asto promote free passage of the liquid during the draining.

5. A construction as set forth in claim 1 and having the surfaceportions of the clip adjacent the points of gripping of the grippingprojections at such angles and distances sufiicient to promote freecirculation of air between the coacting gripping projections adjacentthe gripping points and between the gripping points and the film when inplace.

6. A construction as set forth in claim 1 and having a leg portionprovided with a bend extending to the far side of the other leg, withits gripping projection substantially opposite the gripping projectionportion of the other leg.

7. A construction as set forth in claim 1 and having the gripping pointsat which the gripping action of the gripping projections takes place, ofa non-piercing shape so that the gelatine of the film will be grippedwithout piercing the film.

8. A construction as set forth in claim 1 and having film-grippingprojections in spaced pairs, the coacting projections on opposite sidesof the film position being nearly but not exactly opposite therespective corresponding and coacting projections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date D. 162,336 Oest et a1 Mar. 6, 1951 164,461 Krelwitz June 15,1875 225,652 Simonds Mar. 16, 1880 255,013 Oleson Mar. 14, 1882 628,583Heyman July 11, 1899 658,965 Senna Oct. 2, 1900 667,941 Hawkins Feb. 12,1901 810,004 Tabler Jan. 16, 1906 867,031 Glading Sept. 24, 19071,091,413 Wilkins Mar. 24, 1914 1,389,675 McClellan Sept. 6, 19211,454,213 Chapman et al May 8, 1923 1,797,056 Fischer Mar. 17, 19312,057,078 Abramson Oct. 13, 1936 2,082,577 Herschmann June 1, 19372,092,522 Post "Sept. 7, 1937 2,254,798 Dye Sept. 2, 1941 2,428,558Drucker Oct. 7, 1947 2,455,627 Uhlmann Dec. 7, 1948 2,508,077 PrestonMay 16, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,814 Austria June 15,1902 322,388 Great Britain Dec. 5, 1929

